Consumer confidence gained strength in April

The consumer confidence indicator stood at 17.9
in April, having been 15.4 in March and 15.9 in February. Consumer
confidence was clearly higher in April than one year ago and also
stronger than the long-term average. The data are based on
Statistics Finland's Consumer Survey for which 1,373 persons
resident in Finland were interviewed between 1 and 20 April.

Of the four components of the consumer confidence indicator,
expectations concerning unemployment and Finland's economic
situation improved in April compared with the previous month.
Belief in Finland's economy was the strongest since 1994.
Consumers' views about their own economy and saving possibilities
remained almost unchanged and bright. In addition, their estimates
concerning personal threat of unemployment improved. Consumers
thought in April that the time was favourable for raising a loan
and for buying durable goods.

Consumer views on the economic and financial
conditions in Finland in April 2010,
balances1)

Average
10/95-

Max.
10/95-

Min.
10/95-

April
2009

March
2010

April
2010

Outlook2)

Consumer confidence indicator

13.0

21.8

-6.5

1.0

15.4

17.9

+

CCI components:

Own economic situation
in 12 months' time

9.1

14.1

2.3

3.4

10.1

10.2

+/-

Household's saving possibilities
in the next 12 months

36.7

52.0

10.9

45.3

46.4

45.2

+

Finland's economic situation
in 12 months' time

4.8

24.2

-27.1

-2.7

22.0

24.2

++

Finland's unemployment situation
in 12 months' time

1.4

27.6

-51.1

-42.0

-17.0

-7.9

-

Others:

Inflation
in 12 months' time, per cent

2.1

4.6

0.7

1.4

2.0

2.3

Own threat of unemployment
at present

0.4

7.6

-18.8

-15.1

-4.4

0.9

+/-

Financial situation of household
at present

26.9

35.1

14.7

31.6

32.1

30.7

+

Favourable time
for buying durable goods

21.0

41.8

-14.2

31.3

30.5

31.9

+

Favourable time
for saving

10.8

36.8

-19.6

6.8

10.5

12.8

+/-

Favourable time
for raising a loan

18.3

42.0

-47.1

9.0

21.2

27.0

+

1)The
balancefigures are obtained by
deducting the weighted proportion of negative answers from that of
positive answers.
The consumer confidence indicator is the average
of the balance figures for the CCI components. The balance
figures
and the confidence indicator can range between -100 and 100 - the
higher the balance figure, the brighter the view
on the economy.2)++ Outlook is very good, + Outlook
is good, +/- Outlook is neutral, - Outlook is poor, - - Outlook is
very poor. Deviation
of balance from average has been compared to standard
deviation.

In April, 57 per cent of consumers believed that Finland's
economic situation would improve in the coming twelve months, while
11 per cent of them thought that the country's economy would
deteriorate. Twelve months earlier the respective proportions were
35 and 34 per cent. In all, 27 per cent of consumers believed in
April that their own economy would improve and only 9 per cent of
them feared it would worsen over the year. Twelve months ago the
corresponding proportions were 21 and 15 per cent.

Altogether 26 per cent of consumers thought in April that
unemployment would decrease in Finland over the coming year, while
39 per cent of them believed it would increase. The corresponding
proportions were 20 and 49 per cent in March and very gloomy 10 and
75 per cent one year ago.

Sixteen per cent of employed persons believed in April that
their personal threat of unemployment had lessened over the past
few months, whereas 17 per cent thought it had grown. The
corresponding proportions were 13 and 21 per cent in March and
gloomy 8 and 32 per cent one year ago. In April, 44 per cent of
employed persons thought the threat had remained unchanged and 22
per cent felt that they were not threatened by unemployment at
all.

Consumers predicted in April that consumer prices would go up by
2.3 per cent over the next 12 months. The long-term predicted
average inflation rate is 2.1 per cent.

Altogether 59 per cent of consumers considered saving worthwhile
in April. Sixty-five per cent of households had been able to lay
aside some money, and 77 per cent believed they would be able to do
so during the next year.

In April, 70 per cent of consumers regarded the time good for
raising a loan. One month ago the respective proportion was 65 per
cent and one year ago 56 per cent. In April, 14 per cent of
households were planning to take out a loan within one year.

In April, 55 per cent of consumers thought the time was
favourable for buying durable goods. Consumption intentions were
mostly moderate, but many households had plans to spend money on,
for instance, travel, dwelling repairs and buying of vehicles
during the next six months. In the next twelve months, 17 per cent
of households were fairly or very certain to buy a car and 9 per
cent a dwelling. In April last year the respective proportions were
14 and 8 per cent.

Consumer confidence indicator (CCI)
10/1995-4/2010

Consumers' expectations concerning their own and
Finland's economy in 12 months' time 10/1995-4/2010

Deviation of CCI from country average in EU member
states, March 20101)